With the demise of the Highways Agency in 2016, many of the specifications previously used to define the performance of traffic control equipment could have been abandoned.
To avoid this and provide continuity, TOPAS was established with the aim of maintaining and developing these specifications, to help both purchasers and manufacturers develop and buy products which are fit for use, in the demanding on-street traffic management environment.
To ensure that TOPAS specifications reflect the current and changing requirements of users and manufacturers, TOPAS is actively managed by representatives of users, national government bodies and manufacturers. It also calls upon a wide spectrum of experts, to help create and maintain its range of specifications.
As a manufacturer, why should I Register my products with TOPAS?
When specifying equipment many purchasers now require traffic products to be TOPAS Registered.
The advantage of TOPAS Registration for purchasers, is that it provides assurance that a product has been designed to a specification developed collaboratively by users and industry, to do the intended job. In this way TOPAS Registered products represent best practice and will meet minimum technical performance criteria agreed jointly by representatives of users and manufacturers.
As well as enabling purchasers to be confident that they’re buying a product that has been designed for that purpose, for a product to be TOPAS registered it must be independently verified by a qualified technical assessor, as having been tested against the specification.
As a manufacturer how do I get my products Registered with TOPAS?
The full process for Registration is defined in TOPAS 0600 (which is freely available from the TOPAS website www.topasgroup.org.uk), following a number of simple steps.
- A manufacturer will undertake product design and testing using a properly documented engineering process.
- At the completion of the design and testing process the manufacturer submits a completed Product Technical File to an appropriate Technical Assessor who will verify that the content of the Technical File meets the requirements of the Specification against which the product is to be Registered. (The required content of the technical file is fully defined in each TOPAS product specification).
- The Technical Assessor will confirm compliance and issue a Certificate of Compliance to the manufacturer.
- The manufacturer submits the Certificate of Compliance along with the registration fee to TOPAS.
- TOPAS will review the Certificate of Compliance and if all is in order will notify the manufacturer, add the product to the TOPAS Register and issue a Registration Certificate.
Further guidance on the Registration process is also available from the TOPAS web site and help on process issues may be sought directly from TOPAS by emailing enquiries@topasgroup.org.uk.
As a manufacturer is it mandatory for my products to be TOPAS registered?
All products installed on UK roads must meet the National Legislative Requirements (such as those contained in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD), as well as standards defining EMC, Optical and environmental performance where these are defined.
As part of the TOPAS Registration process, compliance with these requirements are checked (which is of great value to Purchasers), but TOPAS Registration is voluntary and there is no existing mandate which specifically requires TOPAS Registration before a product is placed on the market.
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